System and method for subscriber mobility in a cable network environment

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a backhaul; notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint; relaying control packets between the endpoint and an access gateway; and relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the mobility anchor, where the bearer packets are exchanged with the endpoint over a locally terminated bearer tunnel and the bearer packets are exchanged with the mobility anchor using Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) backhaul network; 
 notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint; 
 creating a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP) tunnel between an access gateway and the mobility anchor; 
 relaying control packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over a bearer tunnel locally terminated at the access gateway; 
 relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over the locally terminated bearer tunnel; and 
 relaying bearer packets between the access gateway and the mobility anchor over the PMIP tunnel. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link between a cable modem and a cable modem termination system. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a request for the service flow includes a quality of service parameter, which is mapped to a DOCSIS quality of service class for the DOCSIS backhaul network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein packets are exchanged between a cable modem termination system and a home agent in a WiMAX network, and wherein a care-of-address is sent in a router advertise message to the endpoint. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning a subscriber policy profile to the endpoint, wherein the subscriber policy profile includes a quality of service parameter for the wireless link. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link over a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) infrastructure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 mapping a quality of service parameter to a quality of service class for a DOCSIS link provided by the DOCSIS backhaul network, wherein the DOCSIS link couples a cable modem and a cable modem termination system. 
 
     
     
       8. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:
 creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) backhaul network; 
 notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint; 
 creating a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP) tunnel between an access gateway and the mobility anchor; 
 relaying control packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over a bearer tunnel locally terminated at the access gateway; 
 relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over the locally terminated bearer tunnel; and 
 relaying bearer packets between the access gateway and the mobility anchor over the PMIP tunnel. 
 
     
     
       9. The logic of  claim 8 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link between a cable modem and a cable modem termination system. 
     
     
       10. The logic of  claim 8 , wherein a request for the service flow includes a quality of service parameter, which is mapped to a DOCSIS quality of service class for the DOCSIS backhaul network. 
     
     
       11. The logic of  claim 8 , wherein packets are exchanged between a cable modem termination system and a home agent in a WiMAX network, and wherein a care-of-address is sent in a router advertise message to the endpoint. 
     
     
       12. The logic of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 assigning a subscriber policy profile to the endpoint, wherein the subscriber policy profile includes a quality of service parameter for the wireless link. 
 
     
     
       13. The logic of  claim 8 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link over a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) infrastructure. 
     
     
       14. The logic of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 mapping a quality of service parameter to a quality of service class for a DOCSIS link provided by the DOCSIS backhaul network, wherein the DOCSIS link couples a cable modem and a cable modem termination system. 
 
     
     
       15. An apparatus, comprising:
 a memory element configured to store electronic code; 
 a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code; and 
 a mobility module coupled to the memory element and the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured for:
 creating a service flow with an endpoint over a wireless link coupled to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) backhaul network; 
 notifying a mobility anchor of a location associated with the endpoint; 
 creating a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP) tunnel between an access gateway and the mobility anchor; 
 relaying control packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over a bearer tunnel locally terminated at the access gateway; 
 relaying bearer packets between the endpoint and the access gateway over the locally terminated bearer tunnel; and 
 relaying bearer packets between the access gateway and the mobility anchor over the PMIP tunnel. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the DOCSIS backhaul network provides a DOCSIS link between a cable modem and a cable modem termination system. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a request for the service flow includes a quality of service parameter, which is mapped to a DOCSIS quality of service class for the DOCSIS backhaul network. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein packets are exchanged between a cable modem termination system and a home agent in a WiMAX network, and wherein a care-of-address is sent in a router advertise message to the endpoint. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further configured for:
 assigning a subscriber policy profile to the endpoint, wherein the subscriber policy profile includes a quality of service parameter for the wireless link. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the backhaul is a hybrid fiber-coaxial backhaul, and the apparatus is further configured for:
 mapping a quality of service parameter to a quality of service class for a DOCSIS link provided by the DOCSIS backhaul network, wherein the DOCSIS link couples a cable modem and a cable modem termination system.